You’re gettin’ a quick post today because I just emerged from my three-hour film theory class and my brain is swirling full of confusing principles of semiotics, feminist aesthetic, and other such academia hosh posh. I’m ready to zone out to some bad tv and let my brain cells rot for a good long while.
I created this dish one night when I had nothing interesting in the fridge (funny how that always happens) and this bowel of comfort, warmth, salt, and love magically was born. It’s got everything I love: veggies, chickpeas, pasta, and a hearty broth. I felt really stupid writing out the recipe which is basically “boil water and dump it all in” but it really was perfection in a bowel. And quite appropriate for the flu/cold/feeling-like-shit season, natch.
I tossed and turned many nights over the name: is it a soup or a stew? It starts out as a soup, but I obviously didn’t add enough water so all my leftovers were a sort of watery stew. Let’s just call it a “soup stew” and acknowledge its yumminess either way.
A note: the pasta does get a bit mushy after sitting around awhile so it’s best to either eat this all at once (among many people, you gluttons!) or cook the pasta separately and add to each serving. However, I didn’t do this cuz I’m too lazy to wash another pot and, as you can see, I survived. I did discover the leftovers are awesome over polenta though!
Chicken Noodle Soup Stew
4 cups water
2 cups potatoes, peeled (if desired) and chopped into small chunks
½ cup pasta
¾ – 1 cup frozen veggies
1 16 oz. can of chickpeas, drained and rinsed
3 T Better than Bouillon chicken paste (I love this stuff- so flavorful!)
salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder to taste
Add the potato chunks to boiling water. After a few minutes, add in the pasta and a few minutes after that stir in the veggies and chickpeas. Add in the vegan chicken paste and spices (feel free to add whatever spices look good to you). When the potatoes are tender (but not mushy), the pasta is al dente, and the veggies are sufficiently cooked, breath in the aroma of chicken noodle soup and think about how life is good. For a bit of zing, grate fresh ginger on top. Enjoy!
Makes 3-5 servings
